Automatic weighing-machine



No. 749,022. PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904. W. BROUGH.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 749,022. PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904. W. BROUGH.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1902. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W/TNESSE /NVENTH gyf ATTOHNE YS.

UNITED STATES atented January V5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BROUGH, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ARTHURL. HORNER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,022, dated January5, 1904.

Application filed August 4, 1902.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BEOUGH, a citizen of the United States,residing in Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have made certain newand useful Improvements in Automatic Weighing-Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in automatic weighing-machines, and isespecially 1o designed for use in weighing granular or pulverulent orpowdered substances and may be employed to advantage in the weighing ofcoffee, sugar, tea, or the like; and the invention consists in certainnovel constructions and gcombinations of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a machine embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the upper porzo tion of themachine. Fig. 3 is a detail section on about line 3 3 of Fig. 2, andFig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the dumping end of one of thescale-pans.

In carrying out my invention I employ a suitable framing `comprising astandard A, supporting at its upper end a cross-'bar B, having at itsends uprights B,to which are secured the lower ends of inclinedstandards O, whose upper ends are connected by the crossbar C', as shownin Figs. l and 2 of the drawings. This cross-bar C is provided onopposite sides of its center with the rearwardlyprojecting lugs C2,which form stops for the main beam as the latter rocks in the operationof the device, as presently described.

To the main frame and preferably in connection with the cross-bar C', Ipivot the rocking hopper D at a point above its lower or discharge end,so its said end may rock lat- 40 erally to discharge into one or theother of the so-called scale pans presently described. These scale-pansE and E are pivoted at one end concentrically at e, preferably on a rodextending through the said pans near one end thereof and supported inthe uprights B of the cross-bar B, so the said pans will lie between thesaid uprights and will operate side by side in the use of the Inachine.The scale-pans rise and fall at their 5o ends opposite the pivot e andare provided Serial No. 118,254:- (No modclfl at such ends with thegravity-gates F, which are pivoted at their upper ends atf to theirrespective scale-pans, so their lowerends may swing out by gravity whenthe pans drop to the position occupied by the pau E in Fig. 1 and permitthe free discharge of the contents and will when the pans are in theposition occupied bythe pan E in Fig. l close the outer ends of thescale-pans, as shown.

The rocking hopper D is connected on op- 6o posite sides of its pivotwith the pans E and E', preferably by means of a main beam G, securedbetween its ends in connection with the hopper D and having its oppositearms connected by rods or links Hand H', respec- 65 tively, with thepans E and E', so the movements of the pans down and up as they arefilled and emptied will operate to positively move the rocking hopper tocause it to first discharge into one pan until the latter moves 7o downby the weight of its contents to dumping position and then be shifted todischarge into the other pan, as will be understood from Fig. l, inwhich the pan E' has been moved down to dump its contents and the hopperhas been shifted so its discharge end will be over the pan E in positionto discharge into such pan. It will be understood that in the operationof the invention the material may be fed in a steady stream to thehopper and 8o the latter shift from side to side to discharge first intoone pan and then into the other, the pans discharging alternately tosuitable receptacles, as will be understood from Fig.l.

A shed I in the form of a plate bent to taper at its crown i, with itsopposite wings overlapping the pans E and E' at their adjacent edges, issuitably secured to the main frame and is arranged below the dischargeof the hopper to direct the material discharged 9o from said hopper intoone or the other of the pans during the shifting of the hopper, and soprevent any wasting of the material between the pans at such time. Bypreference this shed I is secured at its rear end to the main frame andextends thence forward with its front end free, as shown in Fig. l.

The main beam G has its opposite arms stopped in their upper positionsby the lugs C2, and this main beam may have its arms roo perforated-at gto receive weights g' when it is desired to weigh different quantitiesof material at the same time. Thus if it is desired to Weigh one poundof material in the pan E and a half-pound in the pan E the weight g maybe arranged on the arm of lever G, to which the pan E is connected, asshown in Fig. l, and be of proper weight or suitably adjusted along saidarm to secure the desired Weighing of the respective quantities by thepans E and E. This also may be secured by a proper adjustment of aweight .I on a rod J', extended alongside the body of the hopper; butthis weight J is usually employed to adjust for slight variations int-he weights of the scale-pans and in order to properly balance thescales.

In order to adjust the scale to weigh different amounts, I provide inconnection with the hopper a rod KQ extending upwardly above the pivotof the hopper and having upon it an adjustable weight K2, which may beset up or down, according to the weight of the material to be dischargedby the scalepans, it being understood that the greater the amount to beweighed the higher the adjustment of the weight K on its rod. In theoperation of the described construction it will be noticed that thescale-pans and their contents operate to positively shift the rockinghopper so it will discharge to one pan. and then, after the desiredquantity has been delivered to such pan, to the other pan, the hopperrocking to shift its discharge to position to deliver to rst one pan andthen to the other, as will be understood from the preceding description.

The dropping of the pans and the rocking of the hopper from side to sidemay produce an objectionable jar, and to avoid this I provide a cushionto receive and counteract the jar or shock, and this cushion ispreferably a pneumatic one applied to the rocking hopper, preferably bymeans of an arm K, depending from the main beam and connected at itslower end with the air-cushion, as shown in Figs. l and 2. I also preferto so connect the air-cushion with the rocking hopper that the cushiondoes not operate on the initial movement of the hopper, but is broughtinto play as the hopper passes its central position in one or the otherdirection. This is important, as it avoids any interference with theweighing operation, which might tend to produce inaccuracy in results,and only brings the cushioning into action as the hopper passes itscentral position and thence toward the end of the stroke, when themomentum of the descending scale-pan is sufficient to secure the fullextent of movement of the rocking hopper against the resistance of thecushion.

As shown, I employ two air-cylinders L, secured to the standards C. Thecylinders L are provided at their outer ends with tubular extensions L',threaded toreceive nuts L2, which may be adjusted over the vent L3 toregulate the discharge of air from the cylinder as the piston movesoutward. The piston-rod projects from the inner end of the cylinder Land is connected with the depending arm K and is preferably made insections M and llll, which have a limited sliding movement upon eachother, secured in the present instance by telescoping the section M inthe section M and by slotting the section L' longitudinally at m/ toreceive a pin m on the section M. By this construction, as will beunderstood from Figs. l and 2, the rod M may slide upon the section Mduring the initial movement of the hopper, but will positively engagewith section M' and operate to move the piston in the air-cylinder asthe rocking hopper approaches the end of its movement.

A vertically-adjustable platform N is arranged to support the bags orcartons O to be filled, fun nels P being suitably supported inconnection with the standard A to receive the material discharged by thepans E and E' and deliver the same to the bags. The funnels are alsoadjustable, and they and the support for the bags O may be moved to anydesired position up or down to adapt the machine for larger or smallerbags.

By preference I provide the scale-paus E and E with rods P2, projectingrearwardly from them and threaded to receive the weights P', so thelatter can be readily adjusted along their rods. These weights, it willbe understood, may be utilized in regulating the amount of materialnecessary to dump the pans, and by adjusting them variably they may aidin the Weighing of different amounts of material in the different pans.

While the hopper is shown as having its upper end flared for conveniencein delivering material thereto, it will be understood that this form ofhopper may be varied without departing from some of the principles of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. An automatic weighing-machine substantially as herein describedcomprising a suitable framing, a pair of pivoted scale-pans provided attheir discharge ends with gravitygates, a rocking hopper having itsdischarge end movable to discharge alternately into the different pans,connections between the pans and the rocking hopper whereby the pans maypositively adjust the hopper to its different positions, a shed belowthe hopper and overlapping the adjacent edges of the pans whereby toprevent waste of material as the hopper is shifted from one position tothe other, and air-cushioning devices having a sliding connection withthe rocking hopper whereby the hopper may move independently of theaircushion during its initial movement and the air-cushion will bebrought into play subsequently.

2. The combination with the dumping scalepans arranged side by side andpivoted at one IOO IIO

end and discharging at their other ends, and a hopper which dischargesalternately into said pans, of a shed below the hopper and overlappingthe adjacent edges of the pans whereby to prevent loss of materialbetween the pans in the shifting of the devices.

3. An automatic weighing-scale comprising the scale-pans pivoted at oneend and dropping at their other ends, the rocking hopper arranged todischarge alternately into said pans, and connections between the pansand the hopper whereby the pans may positively operate the hoppersubstantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the pivoted hoppersarranged side by side andpivoted at one end and vhaving a main beam extending on opposite sidesof the pivot, of the scale-pans,and connections between the scale-pansand the main beam whereby the movements of the pans may positivelyoperate the rocking hopper substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the rocking hopper, the scale-pans arranged sideby side, pivoted at one end, and discharging at their opposite ends,connections between the scale-pans and the hopper whereby the movementsof the pans may positively operate the hopper, and the shed arrangedbelow the hopper and between the same and the pans and having portionsoverlapping the adjacent edges of the pans whereby to avoid loss ofmaterial as the hopper shifts from one position to the othersubstantially as set forth.

6. The combination in an automatic weighing-machine of the pivotedscale-pans arranged to dump at one end, the rocking hopper dischargingalternately to said pa ns, connections between the pans and the hopper,an air-cylinder and the piston-rod thereof connected with the hopper andmade in sections having a limited sliding movement upon each othersubstantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the hopper of an aircushioning device connectedtherewith and having a piston-rod made in sections having a limitedsliding movement along each other substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the hopper and a yielding cushion therefor, ofaconnection between the hopper and cushion and composed of rod-sectionsin alinement with each other and having a limited sliding movementwhereby to cushion the movement of the hopper toward the end of itsmovement without retarding the initial movement of the hoppersubstantially as set forth.

9. The combination with the hopper and the main beam connected therewithand having the opposite outwardly-extending arms and the depending arm,of the scale-pans connect-- ed with the outwardly-extending arms wherebyto positively operate the hopper, and the cushioning devices connectedwith the depending arm substantially asset forth.

10. The combination of a pair of dumping scale-pans arranged side byside, pivoted at one end and discharging at their opposite ends andgravity-operating gates at the opposite or discharge ends of the saidpans substantially as set forth.

11. The combination in a weighingmachine, of the dumping scale-pansarranged side by side, and pivoted at one end and arranged to swingvertically at their opposite or discharge ends, the rocking hopperdischarging to said scale-pans, and connections between the rockinghopper and the pivoted scale-pans, whereby the latter may positivelyoperate the rocking hopper, substantially as set forth. v

l2. A machine substantially as described comprising a pair of dumpingscale-pans arranged side by side, pivoted at one end, and provided attheir opposite or discharge ends with gravity-operating gates, and anadjustable hopper movable whereby it may discharge alternately to 'saidpans and connections between the pans and the hopper whereby themovements of the pans may automatically move the hopper substantially asset forth.

13. The combination with the frame having the stops C2 ofthe hopperpivoted to the frame between said stops and provided with a main beamarranged to engage said stops, the dumping scale-pans and connectionsbetween said pans and the main beam substantially as set forth.

14. The combination in a weighing-machine, of the two scale-pansarranged side by side and pivoted at one end whereby their opposite endsmay rise and fall vertically, the movable ends of the pans beingadjacent to each other,the hopperdischarging alternately to the saidpans, and connections between the pans and the hopper, substantially asset forth.

15. rIhe combination with the pans and the hopper of the cylindersarranged on opposite sides of the hopper and the rods between thecylinders and the hopper and including sections having a limited slidingmovement whereby to cushion the jar of the hopper without retarding theinitial movement thereof.

WILLIAM BROUGH.

Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMON, PERRY B. TURPIN.

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